Device for peeling eggs by fluid pressure



March 14, 1950 J. B. RICHARDS 2,500,705

DEVICE EOE FEELING EGGS EY FLUID PRESSURE Filed May Iv, 194e /l 14,3 mw [7 l@` I H I9 19 T25 ni f m I "p20 '2.1 l zo IIIII 2f I /5 42,45' iig 40 .as 39 Iv l/E/v Tok; ./oH/'v @Rues /cH/nws, EY @Ton/ver Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED GFFICE DEVICE FOR PEELING EGGS BY FLUID PRESSURE John Bruce Richards, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 670,470V

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to means for removing the shells of hard boiled eggs. It has for a primary object the provision of means for quicker and complete separation of the shell from the egg together with the intervening membrane between the shell and the white of the egg. A further important object of the invention is to prevent damage or injury to the white of the egg yduring the shell removal operation. These and other objects and advantages of. the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation and partial section of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in end elevation;

Fig. 3, a view in top plan;

Fig. 4, a view in central vertical section through a modied form of the invention;

Fig.` 5, a top plan View of the form shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a view in side elevation and partial section of a still further modified form; and

Fig. '7, a view in top plan of that form shown in Fig. 6.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring rst to that form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, an elastic cup I0 is mounted upon any suitable upright standard, herein shown as a short length of pipe I I. A col' lar I2 is rst secured along the pipe II .by any suitable means, such as by screw threads, and then a plate I3 has the upper end of the pipe II inserted through a hole therethrough to have the plate I3 rest on the collar I2. The iioor of the cup I is perforated to receive the upper end of the pipe I I therethrough and is brought down to rest against the top side of the plate I3. A washer I4 is placed around the upper end of the pipe II to rest on the top side of the floor of the cup I0 and then a nut I5 is screw-threadedly engaged around the upper end of the pipe II to clamp the iloor of the cup I0 between the plate I 3 and the washer I4. As indicated in the drawing, cup I0 preferably has an inturned lip I6 extend' ing around its upper marginal portion to define an opening therethrough less than the major diameter of an egg. In fact, the diameter is made to be such that when the small end of the egg is inserted through the hole or top opening of the cup I0, the shell will come to rest around the marginal edge I6 to space the end `of Vthe 2 egg a slight distance above the nut I and the upper end of the pipe I I.

An arm I'I is carried outwardly and down wardly from the plate I3 to present a slightly `arcuate surface, from which protrude top and bottom puncture pins I3 and I9, respectively. The lengths of these pins I8 and I9 are made to be such that when the small end of an. egg is pressed thereagainst to come into contact with the outer surface of the arm I'I between-those pins, the pins will enter through the shell of the egg and also the membrane thereunder, but will not penetrate the white of the egg any appreciable distance. In fact, such penetration is pur posely kept down to a dimension on the ordervof hundredths of van inch so that when. the egg is withdrawn/from those pins, what little penetration has been had will ,be unobserved by reason of the fact that the white of the egg willi-close together about the cut, or cuts, made. The pins I8 and I9 are quite sharp, to facilitate penetra-v tion of the shell.

The lower end of the pipe II is connected to some suitable source of gas under pressure, such as a hand'pump, an ordinary air compressor line, or with the usual carbonio acid gas tank. In the present showing. the pipe I I is screw-threaded into a T fitting from which a pipe 2| leads to the pressure source (not shown). Some type of valve to control the pressure in the pipe II is provided. In the present showing, Fig. 4, lone type of valve suitable is indicated whereinvthere is a valve body 22 screw-threaded into one .of the' openings of the T 20 opposite the pipe 2I. vA valve 23 is maintained against a seat 24 by means of a valve rod 25 slidingly extending through the body 22 to be connected with an outer button 26 normally urged to an outer position by means of a spring 21 between that button 26 and the body 22. The body 22 in the form indicated forms a gas tight seat at the shoulder 28 so that flow from the pipe 2| to the pipe I I is had only when the button 26 is pushed to the right to move the valve 23 off its seat 24 to permit the flow to be had through the bore 29 and out through the lateral passageway 30 to the pipe I I.

In practice, an egg is pushed or tapped by its small end against the pins I8 and I9 and twisted slightly in order to provide at least one cut through the shell and the membrane. No cracks in the shell should extend from the small end above the egg shell ring of contact with the cup edge I. Also, the egg is tapped on its larger end to crack the shell without rupturing the membrane, and Without producing fractures down the sides o1' the egg from the large end to the small end. Then the small 4end of the egg is pressed down into the cup IU to have the shell rest against the marginal edge I6 with the punctured end within the cup I 9. The button 26 is pushed inwardly slightly to admit the gas slowly, following which the :button is pushed quickly to 1111 valve opening, KWhereu.12.0.11 .that pressure `-is transmitted i between :.tljleJ membrane and the White of the egg, rst to separate the membrane from the egg white and crack the shell, and then to literally blow the shell outwardly from the egg to eiect anomplete separa tion thereof. Of course, the shell is held normally Within the hand of the operator. Nolsniall particles of the membrane and shell vare left on the egg, and a complete, thorough-:separation is had.

The foregoing description relates to an apparatus useable where the-pressure in the line 2I is relatively 1oW,"but wherethe pressure vruns-fupito more than forty-five poundsor morefpersquare inch, then the modication shown infFigs. i4 and 5 is preferably used. "In this"modication,a2nut 35fis1used in'place of the nut I5. Thisrnutffsagis ineiect aV cap having-'the top-closure 36W,ith lateral openings f3? thereunder, herein shown `as four-in number. Y In this form, the-'owo'f the gas is directed laterally vinitially so Vas 'to prevent a suddenlirnpact of undue-proportions onr the end of the egg, which might tend to'blowapartjthe `white of the egg itself.

In using theV form yof zthe yinvention shown in Fig-s4 and 5, a-plurality of shell puncture pins 9'8, l1 ereinshown asf-our in number,;are pIQv-ided toiproiect upwardly from llilleftop .closure :33B- '1F11' Sapins/.,138 comparat @lesstof-the pins |58 and` F beve mentioned. 'Ihespaoing-o `these pir-gps v SB-jlrornwjthe.-inturned cup lipl is madeto, be such that normallyitheflowerend ofthe egg-fpmjetingfdownwardlyrom the lipN I6 "doesnotf-come into contact with those pins. Byfpushingfthefegg downwardly to distort-the-cu-p `I1sli-ghtly,:orlat least the' lip I6, theloweryendfofthe egg=isbrought against these pins-i158 and' puncturedthereby to provide the necessary opening through the-'shell and membrane :for entrance of the-flowsoi gas between the membrane and kthewhite of'fthei-egg- Following the punoturing of the lowerend kofi the egg, Pressure `onthe egg: may be-rel-ieved torfwhere the'v egg-would-be returned.V to its -uppennormallrposition, sealing lagainst flow of vgas 'outwardly aroundfthe egg V-loetween the l outside o'f Vithejfshell and the-lip I6. In' this form, of coursefcarem-ust be'eexercised that-'the egg isnot-'forced'ownftoo l farfagainst the-resilient opposition ofthelcupf` ISO, otherwise the lower end ofthe eggwillbedamaged beyond the` merel cuttingthrough of the shellsand membrane 'tosuch an extent :that the whitelof thev egg will: be broken. toV allow the `,flow of', gasto enterlinteriorly.

-Referring to=that:form. offthe'finventionfas illustrated in Figures-Sandi meansareprovidedilto aid-1in `securing just thetright tdegree of pressure applied fby. the. operatoron the egg ,downwardly against the puncturingpinss38-. In-g this cfvormgof the invention, the pins 38 areshownxasbeing mounted upon a plain typetofrnutfIfandtheapipe 2Hy isl-mountedftoI be connected to .-a .relatively low pressure` lme,'since.=the.iow tlflroughxthe-V pipe II. is unrestricted. at 'the top endr andjathe sentire blast therefrom would: .be directed vimnfrediately againstl theilowerend ofthelegg.

Referring to Fig. *6, .a tubular-sleevell fis Dro.- videdlsto ffit slidingly downwardly. :over .thennpper the sleeve 39 at its top end.

A short length of tube 4Q is fixed to the pipe I I ,rfandgextendsupwardly within the spring 49 to pro- :ject normally above the upper flange end 43 of i5.,

the.. sleeve 3.9. l[ [jhe nut I5 is screw-threadedly engaged around'the upper end portion of this tube ,11.4. sealingegas'ket 45 is provided around the tllbe,.44 .t0 bear against the under side of the nut I5. The spring en normally pushes the upper end 43. of the tube 39 against this gasket 45 to provide .algas-sealtherebetween.

"In usingthislform 'of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 'Gand-77, the small'end oi-theegg is-inser-ted Iinto fthe 'cup if I@ vto have the 'egg bear against fthe lip. fdffforminga seal therearound. The top eend-'of fthenut lI5 and Ythesupporting tube AIlI yare spaced below the lowerfend fof 'the egg with/the parts in thel positions illustratedin Fig. 6. By pushing-'the'egg downwardvlyslightly, thecupflifbodily travels downwardly against'the .resistance o'fftheJv spring t9 to allo-wthe lower end of theseggfftolbe brought'against-the pins r38 to performithef'puncturing operation. IFollowingthe puncturing, the downward push on the eggrisrelievedssuicientlyfto ..permitf the 1 cup. f i iii to return 17o-its normal-upper position, fwhereuponaftherbutton 26 is momentarily-pushed:inwardlyfandithen released to secure the'quickimpactF-of .thevgas 'ilovweagai-nstf-:thei lowerffnunctured endffof Athe egg, whereupon the shell ris. split open :and separated fromzthe white ofethe egg.tasaaboveindicated.

While I have herein shown and describ'edmy inlientionenlthe bestfformsas nowknown toxme, it is obviousJ that-structural variations may he employediwithout departingziromthe.4 spirit .of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to belliniitedto-.those precisefformsiheyond thelimitations as may-:be imposed bysthefollowing. claim.

lIn'a-.devioeior removing theishelllfromaphardboiled Segen-an Helasticcup-'havingY an: openingzzless infdameter than,l the maior transverse diameter olf-,.fanfegg; apressure. line centrallyentering the floor-,of :said cup; means for controlling flow throughsaid; lineiintofsaid cup from zeropressu-re to:full .,p ressurey infthefline; and means'fonpunctur; g the :small endrof Ithe egg to be entered throughlv said; cupopening said. means comprising at least, onelsharpened pin -whose overall length iS Substantially-limited.to'penetratingthe ess shell and. .the .membrane :appearing between, thetshell and`.,the. egg white, vwherebypressure A created in said cupmay be ,transmitted only .exteriorly of said iwhite andinteriorly ofsaid membranehand atmeinber relatively xed within said cupupon which, thepingismounted to have the free and of [tlf1ev pin normallybeloW/the eggshell whenthe egg `isinSertedlin v'said `cup by its small end hto contact the margin of said cup opening; means normally, resiliently'maintaining saidfcup at the elevation-Withholding the eggs` small 'end spaced from-said pi-n,-said last means permitting said cupV tofzmov-e bodily:undersuiiioientfpressure upon the-eggplacedf in'saidf-cup openingfto have-theegg press zagainstsai'db-pin V'for lshell-puncturing, the

travel of the egg being limited by the egg's contact with said pin carrying member; said pin carrying member being mounted on said pressure line; a sleeve carrying said cup and slidingly tting said pressure line; and said cup resilient maintaining means consisting of a spring bearing between said sleeve and said pressure line; outer travel of said sleeve being limited by abutment with said pin carrying member; and a gasket between said last member and said sleeve for compression there-v between to form a gas tight joint therebetween when said cup is urged by said spring to said. elevation.

JOHN BRUCE RICHARDS.

The following references are of recrd 'in the le of this patent:

UrITED STATES PATENTS 

